Translation of the Article (Il Tempo, 22 October 1985)
Abstract
In October 1985, the Italian newspaper Il Tempo reported on the linguistic theory proposed by Nermin Vlora Falaschi, an Albanian-born scholar and wife of an Italian ambassador. Falaschi argued that modern Albanian shares significant affinities with the ancient Etruscan language and can serve as a tool for deciphering Etruscan inscriptions. Drawing on her personal observations at the University of Perugia, where she claimed to interpret Etruscan texts using Albanian, Falaschi developed this hypothesis in her book Antiche civiltà del Mediterraneo. Her work includes proposed translations of Etruscan, Illyrian, and the Lemnos Stele inscriptions, building upon earlier research by French scholar Zacharie Mayani.
SUGGESTIVE THEORY OF THE WIFE OF AN AMBASSADOR
Close affinity between the current Balkan language and the still undiscovered Etruscan language
From the conquest of Etruria, a part of the Roman cultural and scientific heritage, the Etruscan language has been one of the most tortuous subjects for studies of difficult Etruscan problems…
The thesis of a close affinity between modern Albanian and Etruscan has been supported with extensive documentation by Mrs. Nermin Vlora Falaschi, of Albanian origin and wife of an Italian ambassador. She has written a book on the subject titled Antiche civiltà del Mediterraneo and recently gave a lecture in Rome at the central seat of the Mediterranean Academy.
Mrs. Falaschi recounts that she approached the study of the Etruscan language when, in the atrium of the University of Perugia, she was astonished to discover that she could decipher some Etruscan inscriptions decorating the walls using Albanian.
Since then, Falaschi has translated numerous Etruscan, Illyrian, and Mesopotamian inscriptions using her method, including the famous Stele of Lemnos (6th century BCE) found on the Greek island in the Aegean. It is the only inscription considered Etruscan found outside Italy.
The article also references the work of French scholar Zacharie Mayani, author of Les Etrusques commencent à parler and Les Etrusques parlent.
Article: Nermin Vlora Falaschi’s Theory on Albanian and Etruscan Linguistic Connections (1985)
On 22 October 1985, the Italian newspaper Il Tempo published an article presenting the linguistic theory of Nermin Vlora Falaschi. According to the report, Falaschi proposed that the Albanian language shares a close affinity with ancient Etruscan and can assist in deciphering Etruscan inscriptions.
While visiting the University of Perugia, Falaschi observed that she could read certain Etruscan texts by applying knowledge of Albanian. This discovery led her to conduct further research, resulting in the book Antiche civiltà del Mediterraneo and public presentations in Rome.
Her work includes translations of various Etruscan inscriptions, Illyrian texts, and the Stele of Lemnos. The theory builds on earlier studies by French researcher Zacharie Mayani.
The 1985 article highlighted Falaschi’s background as an Albanian-born scholar and wife of an Italian ambassador, framing her contribution as a suggestive approach to the longstanding mystery of the Etruscan language.
Sources
Newspaper Article
“La lingua albanese può aiutare a decifrare i misteri etruschi.” Il Tempo, October 22, 1985, 19.
Secondary Sources
Vlora Falaschi, Nermin. Antiche civiltà del Mediterraneo. Rome, 1980s.
Mayani, Zacharie. Les Etrusques commencent à parler. Paris: Payot, 1961.
Mayani, Zacharie. Les Etrusques parlent. Paris: Payot, 1962.
